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Ex-Gators Billy Horschel and Matt Every are green at Augusta, but confident

Matt Every, left, prepares to tee off on number one as Billy Horschel looks on during practice for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, in Augusta, Ga. Chris Thelen/staff

“I feel very good. … I’ve worked hard on my game and I’m seeing good results,” Horschel said after playing the front nine of the Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday with Every and former coach Buddy Alexander walking inside the ropes with them. “I haven’t been awed by anything. It’s just another tournament.”

Said Every: “I’ve been playing good all year and I don’t see why it’s going to stop. I see these guys every week and it’s not like all of a sudden they’re going to be better than me this week.”

Bold talk, one might say, from the two First Coast residents.

But they have good reason. Horschel has followed up his 2013 season, when he had eight top-10 finishes and won the Zurich Classic, with four top-25 performances in 2013-14.

Every’s last start was the victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational that gained him entry into the Masters three weeks ago. It was his fifth top 10 of the season.

If they don’t play well, it won’t be because they didn’t work at it. Horschel and Every arrived in Augusta on Friday and have been practicing and playing for the best part of five days.

Alexander kept it light on Wednesday, pointing out a few of the land mines on the course and offering his own experience from playing nearly 100 practice rounds as an honorary invitee each year since 1987, a perk of winning the U.S. Amateur.

“He was out here being a friend, mostly,” Every said.

Alexander said there wasn’t much he could tell them, beyond a few tips about how the greens break toward Rae’s Creek and about how “sticky” the fringe could get when chipping.

After a break for lunch, they formed an all-Gators threesome for the Par-3 Contest, where Alexander made a hole-in-one at No. 2.

Given the spectacular weather, it was a good day. And if body language and smiles are any indication, Horschel and Every are relaxed and ready to attack the course in competition for the first time when the Masters begins Thursday.

Not only are Horschel and Every confident about their games, but they’re not admitting any nervousness about being first-time players at the course and club Bobby Jones built.

“It’s pretty cool being here, no doubt about it, but I haven’t been star-struck,” Horschel said. “It’s a beautiful place. It’s everything I expected. I love it.”

Every was more to the point about where his focus is this week.

“I’m not here to take pictures,” he said.

The Gators have gone through a bit of a dry spell at Augusta.

Since 2010, only three players that Alexander coached have played in the Masters: Brian Gay in 2010 and 2013, Camilo Villegas in 2010 and 2011 and T.J. Vogel in 2013.

During the same time frame, four former University of Georgia players coached by Chris Haack — Bubba Watson, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk and Harris English — have combined for nine PGA Tour victories to get to Augusta. Kirk and English are among the 24 Masters rookies this year.

The last time Alexander had two former players in the Masters field as professionals was in 2009, when Villegas tied for 13th and Dudley Hart tied for 44th in 2009.

Only one former Gator has won the Masters: Tommy Aaron in 1973.

“There are only two of us here, so I hope we can do some good stuff this week,” Horschel said.

Every consulted with two frequent playing partners at the TPC Sawgrass, Champions Tour members Blaine McCallister and Morris Hatalsky. Their best advice, Every said, was to minimize damage.

“The main thing around here is missing on the right side of the pin and not making doubles,” Every said. “The guys gave me their two cents and I took what they said.

Every’s agent, Kevin Canning of the Legacy Agency, has had several clients in the Masters in past years. He said he sees good signs out of Every.

“He’s enjoying it a lot and has been really calm and confident,” Canning said. “I like his demeanor. He seems ready to go.”